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Volume XXXII, No. 4 Fall 2012 What’s Inside

Newly elected 2013 District Officers being sworn in at the Fall Conference,l-r, Commodore, Llorens (Joe) Chenevert,, Chief of Staff Mark Villeneuve,District Captain-North Carl Broberg, District Captain-Central Don Pryjmak,District Captain-South Robert Stauffer

Leadership Philosophy 2

New Challenges 3

Tips from DIRAUX 4

Our New Director 4

District Staff Organization 5

Diversity News 6

Extrem Heat Issues 6

HR Fall Update 7

Shipmate Etiquette 8

Member Training 9

One of Our Own 9

Telecommunications 10

Casualty Drill 11

Toledo Navy Week 12

Voyager Canoe 12

Practice Makes Perfect 13

Coastie News 13

Sabot Training Weekend 14

Fall Conference 16

Newly Elected 9CR District Commodore Llorens Chenevert being“frocked” by Rear Admiral Michael N. Parks and his wife JudyChenevert at the Fall Conference.

For Fall Conference photos and Awards presented go to page 16.

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LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHYBy Llorens Chenevert DCOS (Distric Commodore elect)

My last communication in the Mainstream was as a candidate for theoffice of Commodore. Today as I sit here on September 29, I am writing toyou as the Commodore elect of the Ninth Central Region. My years in theAuxiliary have taught me that taking the helm of any district is truly anhonor and serving the 9th Central Region is an awesome responsibility. Tothat end, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts on leadership,the philosophy that I adhere to, and the future I see for our district. Mywatchwords are; Dedication, Integrity, and Accountability. These threeelements comprise the backbone of the leadership style I have found to bemost effective.

The Auxiliary of today requires a quality of leadership significantlyhigher than the current standards of our society. It requires the kind ofleadership that values its members and the sacrifices they make.

The most basic requisite of a good leader is to be qualified for theposition being sought. And that is only a starting point. He or she mustalso have a vision of what the future looks like. This vision must be wellcrafted. It should be stated in concrete terms that are easy to visualize andremember. The vision should awaken the team. It must challenge them; but it must also be achievable. Thegoal of that vision will be measured in the future, but not so far in the future that it is out of reach. A leadermust be able to identify opportunities, and be able to recognize potential in every situation.

Effective leadership involves a number of components. The most important of which is to lead byexample. A leader must be willing to perform above and beyond the call of duty and share the hardships.Good leadership takes strength of character and a firm commitment to do the right thing, at the right time,for the right reason. Leading by example sets a positive standard of behavior. It is also an example forothers to follow which will result in improvement of the Auxiliary as a whole. Leading by example reinforcesthe purpose of our organization. Actions always far outweigh words.

Another important leadership quality is passion. It encompasses commitment and conviction. Successfulleaders have it in large measure. They insist on sharing it constantly and it is sharply focused on what theywant to achieve. It is concentrated and cuts through objections, obstacles and negativity. Passion isinfectious. Team members will go to the ends of the earth because it. Christopher Columbus proved thatlong ago.

An extremely large part of leadership is taking care of those in your charge. Caring for your people meanshelping them to grow and develop. It means they will develop skills that will serve the Auxiliary well whenfaced with difficulties and challenges in the future. It addresses the expectations concerning how the NinthCentral Region grows its leaders and the corresponding training that will be implemented to insure thisgrowth. Clear, measurable, challenging and achievable goals will be implemented in district administrationand training thereby allowing members to make more effective contributions to the team while at the sametime achieving their personal objectives. Frequent and usable feedback will be implemented as a crucialpart of helping shipmates identify expectations. Great leaders are great listeners. Consistency applied tosituations and individuals along with fairness is the other part of taking care of people. A leader becomes abetter leader by involving more people in the leadership process.

I look forward to an exciting future for our district through expanding our membership and grooming thepresent talent pool to meet the coming challenges. We will strive for proficiency in all of our assignmentsand implement the skills bank to assist the Coast Guard in better utilizing our resources and talents.

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Past Reflections and New ChallengesBy CDR Nathan A. Podoll, DIRAUX

Hello! It was a pleasure to meet many of you during the Fall Businessand Training Meeting in Bellaire, MI in early September. I look forward tomeeting more of you during Change of Watch ceremonies over the next fewmonths. A Hearty “Thank You!” to the outgoing Bridge – it has been achallenging two years with the rollout of Modernization, multiple ongoingand special operations on the water and ashore, along with the steady-statechallenges of recruiting high-quality individuals, then retaining them (you!)while building proficiency. I eagerly anticipate moving forward to continuethe excellent work of the outgoing Bridge with the newly elected Bridge in2013!

Mark your calendars for the Symposium right in your backyard inDearborn, MI at The Henry from April 07-14 2013. Three National ‘C’schools will be presented, including Aux-02: AUXLAMS, Aux-04: DistanceEd Tech, Basic, and Aux-10: Info Sys (AUXDATA/AUXINFO)! These classesare being put on exclusively for 9ER, 9CR, and 9WR, so take advantage of the availability. It’s a great opportunity toget the training you need, meet some of the other amazing Auxiliarists from across the District, share bestpractices, and enjoy some fellowship! Please submit your training requests through your Chain of Leadership toMT NOW so we have them at the ready to build the training rosters in early January.

As I look back over the multiple events that took place on the Lakes in 2012, including Fireworks displays,regattas, and War of 1812 Observances, I see one constant - the importance of Communication. And I see a lot of ithappening! From your contagious efforts to engage Paddlesports enthusiasts (I heard rumors of ambushing peoplereturning to their vehicles with kayaks on top in the parking lot) to WebEx meetings preparing for Symposium, toAuxiliary participation AUXOP Alpena to the Auxiliary playing major roles in multiple SAR cases alongside theStations, the Auxiliary was present across the Coast Guard’s full spectrum of missions.

With the continuing explosion of communications technology, we have multiple ways to communicate. Thechallenge is to determine which method is most effective for a particular conversation. There is a time and place foremail, a phone call, radio call, or the in-person meeting over coffee. This is one reason why the Fourth Cornerstoneis so important – it gives us those moments to build those relationships so we can reach out when the mission getstough. When the Coast Guard member receiving your transmission knows you as a person; that relationship canmake the difference to successfully complete a challenging mission!

I’m watching the remnants of Hurricane Sandy continue to soak Cleveland as the seasons change, and ourmissions switch from summer to winter. As we have a moment to reflect, what is still on your work list that needsto be wrapped up to complete 2012? What are the lessons learned that the winter provides time to address withtraining, and meetings with your Gold Side shipmates? Is there a simmering misunderstanding with anotherAuxiliarist? Is there an issue or person that is being talked about instead of addressed? Practice your leadershipskills to resolve the issues of 2012 so we can move on to the new challenges 2013 will bring!

One of these lingering issues is the full implementation of EVERBRIDGE and SkillsBank programs. Theunwelcome visitor Hurricane Sandy underscores the importance of accountability. To put this in perspective, aTropical System strikes the Great Lakes every 5.5 years on average, and that doesn’t include the blizzards, tornados,and man-made disasters that occur all to routinely. Caring for one another is a Coast Guard hallmark – to look afterour own after a disaster. Your leadership will be reaching out to address the issue on a more personalized level soeveryone can be accounted for in case of a disaster, and needed skill sets leveraged to quickly respond to those inneed and begin the process of cleaning up/rebuilding afterwards!

In closing, your contributions and enthusiasm are contagious – thank you for that, and all the dedicated hoursyou provide to protect our fellow citizens from the many dangers on the water as they venture out for duck huntingand late season fishing trips and support the Coast Guard’s operations. Soon, northern Michigan will be ice andsnow covered, and residents and visitors will be ice fishing and snowmobiling during the ‘hard water’ season. Yourknowledge that you share so ably can mean the difference between a grieving family and another memorable dayoutdoors.

Stay safe, Shipmates! CDR N. Podoll, DIRAUX

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Tips from DIRAUXTo serve you better, we’ll be providing tips and reminders. This newsletter’s topic is Travel Claim Submissions:

DIRAUX receives numerous travel vouchers daily. When processing and auditing the Travel Voucher (DD 1351-2), we’ve noted many Auxiliarist forget to sign paperwork including the Travel Orders (CG-4251).

BOTH the Travel Orders AND the Travel Voucher require an original signature in blue ink. Not doing this delaysthe claim by at least 2 weeks as it is sent back for signature and then the forms are resubmitted. So please, doublecheck ALL forms for signatures before mailing the documents.

Please mail forms to the following address:

Commander (dpa)

9th Coast Guard District

1240 East 9th St

Cleveland, OH 44199-2060

If you have questions, please check your website at http://a091.uscgaux.info/, and if you still have questionscontact Jorge (9WR, 9ER Div’s 5-7) at 216-902-6078, Jorge.L.Leal@uscg.mil or Frank (9CR, 9ER Div’s 1-4) at 206-902-6077, Francisco.J.Magrans@uscg.mil.

Our New Director of AuxiliaryCommander Nathan A. Podoll

Commander Podoll graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1993 and reported to USCGCHORNBEAM (WLB 394) homeported in Cape May, NJ as a Deck Watch Officer. In June 1995 he reportedto Greater Antilles Section Operations Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a Search and Rescue/LawEnforcement Controller. In June of 1997, CDR Podoll reported to USCGC MUNRO (WHEC 724)homeported in Alameda, CA as Weapons Officer where he participated in counter drug, migrant, andfisheries law enforcement, including the first successful prosecution of a Russian fishing vessel forincursion into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Bering Sea. From Aug 1999-Dec 2000 CDR Podollcompleted his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois, and then completed hispayback tour at Civil Engineering Unit (CEU) Miami where he was responsible for District Eight’s Aids toNavigation structures program, the CEU Miami Tall Tower maintenance program, and the Tower ClimbingSafety program for all units within CEU Miami’s area of responsibility. In October 2004 CDR Podollreported to PRECOMDET New MACKINAW in Marinette, WI as the Executive Officer, departing CGCMACKINAW (WLBB 30) in July 2006. He then served at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as a CivilEngineering faculty member, CE Section Chief, and in the summertime as a Deck Watch Officer under sailand power on CGC EAGLE (WIX 327). Executive Officer on board USCGC MUNRO is his fourth afloatassignment.

Commander Podoll has been awarded four Commendation Medals, two Achievement Medals as well asnumerous unit awards and citations. He has been a Professional Engineer in the state of Florida since2003.

He is a native of Indiana and is married to the former Joellen Tryban of Cheboygan, MI. They reside inCleveland with their son Bram, Wheaton Terrier/Poodle mix named Jada and are expecting their secondchild in March 2013.

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The Enhanced Model of 9CR District Staff OrganizationBy Mark R Villeneuve, DCAPT South (District Chief of Staff elect)

The updated Auxiliary Manual (M16790.1G Ch4.C.3) offers alternative considerations for organization of staffofficers at the district level. Starting January 1st we will implement the position of District Directorate Chief (DDC). TheDistrict Directorate Chief is an appointed position. The Directorate Chief will report to the District Chief of Staff. TheDistrict Directorate Chief does not replace any District Staff Officer. District Staff Officers will still be responsible forcommunications up and down the chain with all of their counterparts. One of the primary benefits of introducing thisposition to our organizational structure is to improve communication and coordination among district staff that areworking on interrelated goals, but often aren’t aware of or have the resources to share with each other. The DistrictDirectorate Chief will oversee, coordinate, and support the district departments and programs to insure that there iscommunication and cohesion between the 9th Central Region’s Staff. The majority of districts in the Auxiliary alreadyincorporate DDCs in their staff structure. DDCs will increase the achievement rate of the district initiatives and missionsby maintaining a higher level of interaction between staff officers.

The District Directorate model of the 9th Central Region organizes the district into the directorates of Logistics,Prevention, and Response. The logistics directorate will include DSO-CS, DSO-DV, DSO-HR, DSO-IS, DSO-PA, DSO-PB,and DSO-SR. The prevention directorate will include DSO-MT, DSO-NS, DSO-PE, DSO-PV, DSO-VE and DSO-MS. Theresponse directorate will include DSO-AV, DSO-CM, and DSO-OP. The remaining district staff officers will report to theDistrict Commodore, District Chief of Staff, or a DDC as the district/regional needs may require.

The Directorate Chiefs for the Ninth Central Region are:

DDC Logistics – Ray Roberts

DDC Prevention – Joseph Gregoria

DDC Response – Robert Shafer

The development of directorates at the district level closely follows the organizational structure at the nationallevel. Another plus for this move will be improved communication from the national level to the district level as it pertainsto directorate planning, execution, and goals. Stay tuned, in our next edition of the Mainstream you will hear directly fromour DDCs and the courses they have plotted.

The diagram below demonstrates the reporting structure of the 9th Central Region organizational model.

9th Central Region Organizational Diagram

DCO

DFSO

DSO-FN

IPDCO

DSO-LP

DCOS

DCAPTSouth

DCAPTCentral

DCAPTNorth

DCDRDiv 20Div 22Div 24

DCDRDiv 16Div 18

DCDRDiv 26Div 28Div 30

DDC-R DDC-P DDC-L

DSO-MTDSO-NSDSO-PEDSO-PVDSO-VEDSO-MS

DSO-AVDSO-CMDSO-OP

DSO-CSDSO-DVDSO-HRDSO - ISDSO-PADSO-PBDSO-SR

ADSO’s ADSO’s ADSO’s

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Diversity NewsBy Judy Martin, DSO-DV

Just a reminder that the 2012 NACO Three Star Award for Excellence in Diversity which is an annual awardintended to recognize Flotilla and Divisions for distinction in managing and valuing diversity is due June 30, 2013.The description of the award and the actions that need to be completed to receive the award is located on theUSCG Auxiliary web-site under Department of Diversity and Inclusion http://cgaux.org/leadership/diversity-inclusion/. If you feel you have completed the required goals or will be able to complete them by the end of theyear, please contact me and I will be happy to help you put together the necessary documentation. It is a veryprestigious award and many of you have probably met or exceed the required criteria.

Also, I am glad to report that two new staff positions, SO- DV and FSO -DV were approved by the NationalBoard at N-TRAIN in January 2012. The Directory of Auxiliary approved the changes in August. The link to theannotated Auxiliary Manual that refers to the addition of these two new positions ishttp://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/publications/comdtinst/default.asp

These positions were created by the Diversity and Inclusion National Department to ensure that the StrategicPlan for Managing Diversity that our National Commodore, James Vass established in 2011 is carried down to theDivision and Flotilla level. The Strategic Plan outlines what goals need to be achieved so that the USCG Auxiliaryis able to recruit and retain a diverse volunteer organization. Copies of the job descriptions will be sent to all theDivision Commanders by the end of October. If you are interested in these positions and would like to know moreabout them, please email me at jamartin1@sbcglobal.net .

Dealing with Extreme Heat IssuesAgnes Feldman, DCDR 26

The summer in Northern 9 CR is always very busy for the boating public; it is believed that in the last few yearsthey have been even busier because of the extreme heat that the whole county has been experiencing. Whateverthe reason for this heat, meteorologists tell us that these warm weather conditions are expected to continue for awhile. We can anticipate not only increasing activity on the lakes as people seek relief from the heat, but also anadditional set of problems which are a result of the higher temperatures. This summer I noticed some peoplecoming off the water with signs of exposure to extreme heat, I had not been as aware of these things in the past.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary has for a long time sought to protect our crews and educate the public on thesubject of hypothermia but I noticed this summer that there was increasing evidence that we should nowincrease our awareness and education in the area of the effects of heat. We need to increase our knowledge ofthe causes, signs and symptoms of the effects of extreme heat. The symptoms of heat stroke includedehydration, hot dry skin, and lack of perspiration, nausea, headache, disorientation and confusion.

When we are out on patrol we should all be aware of the effects of intense heat on our boat crews, which maybe aggravated not only by the effects of the water but also , by our uniforms and the PPE that we wear. Weshould make sure that we carry lots of water on the boat, make frequent stops to get out the sun and monitoreach other for signs of heat cramps and heat stroke. Each person should also make sure to apply sun block notonly to the exposed parts of their skin but also should apply a sun block product on their lips.

We should also use our Public Education classes, and Vessel Examination programs to educate the public onthe effects of extreme heat on the human body; the symptoms of heat cramps and heat stroke and the need forpreventive measures. It is important that we use all our missions to update our knowledge and respond to all thechanges in the environment in which we work, which include the changes in the summer environment.

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Human Resources Fall UpdateBy Mark R Villeneuve, DSO-HR

The National Leads system has improved dramatically thenumber of referrals to many of the Flotillas in the District and as a resultmany Flotillas have enjoyed great success in the recruitment of newmembers. As this year draws to a close and as on the water operationalactivities slow and eventually cease, now is the time to renew and re-invigorate each Flotilla’s recruitment efforts. Our success in the futuredepends on our success today in this initiative. Flotillas that alsoconsider additional recruitment resources and sources of new membersalso enjoy great success in their recruitment efforts. I encourage allFlotillas to consider recruitment posters, ads, and presentations toappropriate venues where recruitment may not have been pursued in thepast.

The application process and the keys to achieving success withthis process have been posted and will continue to be posted at theDistrict Website. All Flotilla Commanders and human resource staffofficers are encouraged to be completely familiar with the applicationprocess and the guidelines available. The following reminders will helpinsure the success of each new member’s application: 1.) All signatures must be original and in blue ink. Please no Xeroxcopies of signatures. 2.) Demographics on the fingerprint card must match those on the application. 3.) Line 5 of page 4infrequently completed. If there are no aliases, place “NA” in each of the four boxes on line 5 requesting the same. Inaddition to the highlighted areas above, familiarity with the entire process as outlined in the referenced document willdefinitely help your new members’ application proceeding smoothly through the process. Please involve your vice FlotillaCommander in this process so that should the day arrive when they become responsible for assisting the applicationprocess they are aware of guidelines and rules of the application process. Achieving success now will help with the soonto be released update of the new member application. Look for announcements regarding this upgrade in the future.

Communication from both SECCEN and DIRAUX has indicated that the transition from AP status to IQ/BQ statusmay be prolonged due to shrinking of staffing at SECCEN. It may take 9 months to one year and sometimes more beforestatus change will occur. I would offer that there are many resources that clearly document the ability of a new memberin AP status to be very active and functional in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. While some limitations exist; boat crew,coxswain, watch-standing, and air operations to name a few, the new member in AP status may clearly take the time ofthat first year to compete education and training especially the prerequisites for advanced program participation.

Many changes in our uniforms occur at the end of the year. Chapter 10 of the Auxiliary Manual (M16790.1G)should be reviewed by all Auxiliary members so that we may fully respect the uniform and each other through correctwear of that uniform. Some of the more prominent changes are the following: 1.) Phase out of the “scrambled eggs” ballcap by 31 December 2012. 2.) Elimination of “unit” in our case “Flotilla” ball caps. All ball caps will only indicate USCGAuxiliary without unit specification. 3.) Elimination of should loop or soft shoulder boards (Ch10.D.5), leaving only theenhanced or the hard shoulder boards as the only option for uniform wear. 4.) Winter Dress Blue uniform wear 1November through 31 March each season. It is no longer authorized for year round wear. 5.) ODU cuffs down 1 Novemberthrough 31 March each season and rolled up the remainder of the year. 6.) Metal collar office or member insignia on theball cap only. Embroidered insignia are no longer authorized. There are many other changes documented in the newAuxiliary Manual including many changes in outerwear approved with each uniform sub-type. Therefore careful reviewwill assist in each member’s compliance with appropriate uniform wear.

Please keep in mind the following from the Auxiliary Manual: In keeping with the true spirit of an organization ofvolunteers, the possession and wear of the Auxiliary uniform by Auxiliarists must be a matter of personal pride. When inuniform, an Auxiliarist is a representative of DHS, the Coast Guard, the Auxiliary, and the U.S. Government. Appearance,uniform fit, and grooming shall reflect the pride of that representation. (Ch10.C)

Fall is the traditional time of year when many members change their status. Timely submission of the Change ofMembers status form will greatly help this process. As a reminder the signature of the respective DCDR is a requirementin 9CR. All Flotilla Commanders are encouraged to keep this in mind when processing these forms.

I wish each Flotilla the greatest success in their recruitment efforts and I am available to assist in any mannerthat I can.

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Shipmate EtiquetteBy Jay Croy, DCDR 30

We have had some outstanding Division Training Events this summer. Members from all Flotillasgathered to train, share experiences, and socialize together. We accomplished much in the time we had to worktogether. There were, however, some issues that need to be addressed. When you work with 25 Auxiliarists onfour different Facilities, new issues lead to new lessons in etiquette.

The first unplanned lesson we all learned is that the Coast Guard non-marking black boots that many of uswear with ODUs actually do leave scuff marks all over white fiberglass boats. Dave Tutch’s operational facilityRausie and my facility Cape May had many scuff marks on the decks and along the side walls. Dave spentseveral hours and a $30 bottle of cleaner to remove the marks on Rausie. He didn’t complain but was not happywith the result of the uniform boots on his boat. There was a work crew of members that joined in to help cleanup Dave’s boat when we discovered the problem with the black boots.

Most other issues with Operational Facilities involved following the owner’s process for mooring,replacing equipment, and respecting the space you are using. The following is a list of guidelines when you areparticipating in a group activity.

1. Have a good pair of Boat Shoes to use on Auxiliary Facilities. Coast Guard work boots are perfect forrugged skid proof decks like the RBS 25. They are not good on white fiberglass. Athletic shoes or hiking bootshave large lugs or grooves which pick up rocks leading to scratchedgel coat and a very expensive fix. They also can be slippery anddangerous to wear on a deck.2. Clean your shoes and gear beforeclimbing on board, store your gear in a safe area, and take yourtrash with you when you finish.3. Be alert as to the location andproper use of equipment. Wet lines must be dried and coiled; lifejackets, charts and tools, and other equipment stored in the correctlocation, and the facility cleaned at the end of the day. The missionis not finished until boats are cleaned, stowed, and moored orloaded on trailers.

4. Treat the facility and equipment as if you own it. Anchoringpractice puts dings in gel coat, drags mud on deck, and produceswet line to be dried and stored. Side by side tows can result indamage if fenders are poorly placed.

5. When it is damaged, someone will need to fix or replace theproblem. Boat owners spend many hours and dollars trying to maintain their boat’s appearance. Do what youcan to minimize the problems. Boat owners and Coxswains are particular about how their vessels are tied up atthe end of the day. Using the wrong line, tying too tight or too loose, incorrectly tying a cleat or improper fenderplacement can lead to damage later on. Follow the guidance of the owner and strive for perfection.

6. Respect the Coxswain in charge on a vessel. Everyone wants to help and share their knowledge. In anoperational evolution, communication between Coxswain and acting crew is vital to the safety and execution ofthe event. The time to contribute to the event is during the debrief. Side conversations and conflicting directionsdestroy the coordination necessary to efficiently work together.

7. The members that donate their boats, campers, and radio facilities are doing so because they want tocontribute to our mission. You are invited to participate and train with them because they want to pass on theskill and dedication they have for the Auxiliary mission. You can help by honoring your commitment to themission; respecting the people you are working with and having the same devotion to duty as you see displayedby your mentors.

Follow these rules and you’ll be called shipmate for a long time to come.

Photo by Wayne Hempeck, 30-05

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Member TrainingBy Ken Renner DSO-MT

I would like to acknowledge two of my ADSOs, for the outstanding job they did in helping me out during myrecent recovery from my surgeries. While I'm still on the mend, these guys rose to the top to provide a flawlessFall Conference for the District. A heartfelt BRAVO ZULU goes to Norm Raymond and to Jonathan Ahlbrand forall their help.

Jonathan will be spearheading our efforts to bring training to our entire district using the WEBEX system.This will allow anyone, anywhere in the District, to join in on a variety of topics, to enhance our efforts to becomemore proficient. All you need is a computer and a telephone in order to join in. Contact Jonathan to find outmore.

The 2013 Symposium is well underway in the scheduling of courses that will help in becoming qualified forTRIDENT and other disciplines, within the Marine Safety Department. As always, there will be changes comingthis next year and the SO-MTs will be getting those details as they come forward.

One of our Own By Cheryle Puchala

HS3 Nathaniel (Nate)J. Puchala, Coast Guard Guard Reserve and Auxiliarist is the sonof Matt (Matthew) and Cheryl Puchala. Matt is the Vice Flotilla Commander for TrentonFlotilla 18-10). Nate’s wife, Lindsey and two children, Cameron and Olivia await his returnfrom duty in Kuwait, and this is how the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary helped withhis career.

Nate is a 2003 Graduate of Flat Rock High School. Soon after graduation Nate joined theFlat Rock Fire Department, there he completed his Fire I, Fire II and Basic EMT courses, byOctober of the same year.

While attending the 2009 Memorial Day Parade in Rockwood, MI, he met with one ofFlotilla 18-10 members and was invited to a meeting. His love of challenge, ability to workwell under pressure, and his previous First Responder training helped in his decision to jointhe Coast Guard Auxiliary. Soon after attending his first Flotilla meeting, Nate along with his father, Matt, tookthe Boaters Safety Class and then went on to take the New Member Test in November. Nate is currently qualifiedas Auxiliary Boat Crew, and holds the position of FSO-SR for 091-18-10 Flotilla in Trenton, Michigan.Nate enjoyedhis affiliation with the Auxiliary so much that he decided to go Active Reserve.

He got on the bus and headed for Cape May, New Jersey, for Basic Training after being sworn in on May 11,2010. Eight long grueling weeks later he graduated Boot Camp on July 2, 2010, from there he returned to his dutystation Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, Ohio. He also continued to work on getting qualified as Boat Crewthrough-out the summer.

Nate’s interest in the medical field helped with his next decision to enroll and attend Health ServiceTechnician “A” School in Petaluma, California, from January 2, 2012 to June 8, 2012. He graduated the firstsegment of his training as Emergency Medical Technician February 2012, and continued his education tograduate Health Service Technician with a rank of HS3. Upon graduation he received the Honor of the “HS ASchool Shipmate Award”, where one student per class is recognized and honored by their classmates as a trueshipmate. This award exemplifies the Coast Guard Core Values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to duty. Hisname will be engraved on this highly-admired plaque and remain hanging on the “A” school wall.

Nate was home for only about ten days when he was given his next assignment. He reported to Fort Dix, NewJersey, for his overseas orientation and training. This training lasted from June 20 to July 20, 2012.

After a brief 48 hour leave and time at home, Nate received yet another assignment. He was to be at theairport the morning of July 23, 2012 for his next deployment where he meets up with the rest of his Port SecurityUnit in Kuwait. Nate will remain stationed there until he receives further orders of assignment.

Editors Note: According to Maryann Gregoria, Nate has safely returned home from his deployment.

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Telecommunications Recent HappeningsBy Joe W. Pullen, DSO-CM

For all fixed and land mobile radio facilities, it is important to carry your authorization in the vehicle towhich it is assigned. Also, periodically you should check on the expiration date to make sure that you get a re-inspection completed so that you can stay on the air. In addition, please check that your radio call signs arecorrect with the Coast Guard Auxiliary policies. That means that if you have had a change in flotilla numbers,you should get your call corrected so that it conforms to Coast Guard Auxiliary policy. The VHF voice calls areusually a 6-digit call; the first two digits should be the division number, next 2 digits the flotilla number, andlast 2 or 3 the number assigned for your flotilla. An example for a land mobile in division 22, flotilla 07, wouldbe 220701 through 99 in sequential order.

At the conference at Shanty Creek, SO-CM Howard Gladwin of Grand Forks, ND, was given an award for hisleadership in preparing for the annual floods. His team now has 4 fixed VHF radio stations on Lake of theWoods in addition to both land mobiles and auxiliary vessels. Bravo to Howard.

An additional ADSO-CM has been appointed to coordinate VHF radio nets. The person selected is RichardDavis of Chesterfield Township, Mi. He has had a great deal of experience in professional radiocommunications with both VHF and HF radio systems.

Several Great Lakes HF Stations were activated during Hurricane Isaac to monitor the HF internationaldistress frequencies, DSC, and other frequencies in the 4 MHz HF marine band. For those of you not familiarwith the HF frequencies, these signals can be monitored for thousands of miles, depending on season, time ofday, weather conditions, and sunspot cycles. During the initial part of the Hurricane, a major Coast Guardcommunications station on HF was without power for a considerable part of time. Consequently, themonitoring was done by HF Auxiliary Facilities in District 091, as well as some other districts.

The COMMS report at the Fall conference also mentioned some of the concerns of Rescue 21, includingsome questioning the value of auxiliary communications to the Coast Guard. The District 9 Commander,Admiral Parks, assured the Auxiliary that we were all valued and needed. The problem was that manycoxswains and crew, as well as communication personnel, felt that they were being kept out of the loop anddid not have full situational awareness.

The solution to the problem is to use the following procedure, which will work for most sectors or moststations within a sector. When you go on patrol, call the CGSTA on Channel 16 at which time they may directyou to another VHF channel. Then request that they request the Sector to merge the UHF and VHFfrequencies. This is accomplished by dragging a mouse on their computer from UHF to a VHF box. The resultis that the Coast Guard units on UHF can monitor anything you say on your assigned VHF channel and you canmonitor their UHF traffic on your VHF radio. This is a fairly simple procedure which too many of you seemed tothink could not be done. I was at Sector Detroit and was able to observe them doing this when it wasrequested by the station.

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Port Huron Wreck, Patrol Report

Paddle Sports Mass Casualty DrillApostle Islands,Bayfield, Wisconsin

By Richard Carver, DCDR 28Kayaking is an increasingly popular recreation nationwide and no more prevalent than in the Apostle Islands

on the South shore of Lake Superior near Bayfield, Wisconsin. The Apostle Islands Flotilla of the 9th CentralRegion (091-28-01) has been actively engaged in Paddle Sports Safety in cooperation with the Apostle IslandsNational Lakeshore, National Park Service over the past two summers. In that time period, they have interactedwith more than 4,500 individuals and have handed out more than 3500 orange “If Found” stickers to paddle sportsenthusiasts. According to Coast Guard StationBayfield OIC BMC James Robertson; they havehad a dramatic effect, reducing the mishap rateamong Kayakers and Canoeists.Recently,Auxiliarist Chris Bandy, Flotilla 28-01 PaddleSmart coordinator, worked with the ExecutivePetty Officer of Station Bayfield, BM1 SamuelGraham and with the Chief of Law Enforcementfor the National Park Service, Apostle IslandsNational Lakeshore, Lance Twombley, as wellas local Outfitters to Conduct a “mass casualtydrill” in the North Channel near Madeline Islandin Lake Superior.

As Mr. Bandy described it, “It was theiropinion that increasing kayak and canoeutilization in the park, necessitated clarifyingroles and responsibilities and clearly defininglines of communication”. In addition, he said,“the Kayak Community, in particular theOutfitters, needed to know what to expect inthe event of a mass casualty”.

With appropriate coordination, twelvekayakers paddled out into the lake and, at apre-appointed time, they rolled out of their kayaks and entered the 70 degree waters of the lake. A part of thegroup, Mr. Bandy transmitted a distress call, Coast Guard Station Bayfield responded along with National ParkService first responders.

Monitoring the entire exercise, two Auxiliary Facilities from Flotilla 28-01 provided safety zones and warnedother traffic in the area of the location and nature of the exercise. In addition, Chief James Robertson, OIC StationBayfield, was on scene in their Defender Class RBS and monitored the entire exercise.

Many of the Kayak Outfitters had expressed interest in the exercise and, between the two Facilities,Owner/Managers viewed the exercise from the Facilities on the safety perimeter established by the Flotilla.

To add realism and credibility to the exercise, the twelve kayakers in the water had simulated various degreesand types of personal injuries and complicating factors, which included hearing and sight impaired victims,unconscious victims and a late term pregnant woman with signs of distress, nearly all a reflection of incidents theOutfitters had actually experienced.

Arriving on scene in only 15 minutes, Coast Guard 45653 rapidly rescued the simulated victims andexpeditiously processed the simulated injuries. In follow up, the National Park Service dispatched theiramphibious craft to remove the kayaks from Lake Superior and the entire party proceeded to Station Bayfield for acomplete debrief. Several of the “rescued” kayakers remarked on how rapidly the Coast Guard was on scene andhow quickly they were safely aboard the 45’ RBM.

The entire exercise was very well received and many remarked that they learned a great deal from it and wantedto engage in similar drills again.

Kayak rescue exercise with FN Stout and BMSN Thompson ofCoast Guard 45653, assisting a “survivor” out of the water. crew .Photo by Chris Bandy, 28-01 Paddle Sports Safety Coordinator.

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All Hands were on Deck for Toledo Navy WeekBy Cathie Slabaugh, DCDR 16

From August 24-26 Toledo, Ohio, was "all abuzz" whenthe USS DeWert, USS Hurricane, USCGC Mobile Bay,Canadian Cutter Ville De Quebec and flagship Niagaramoored downtown. The ships were visiting as part ofnational bicentennial commemorations of the war of 1812.Almost a year of planning went into the event, which was ofa size and scale not seen on the Maumee River for almostten years. This event was a rare opportunity to worktogether operationally, so members from Division 18 and 22were asked to participate. Fifty-six Auxiliarists from Division18 and 22 and every Flotilla in Division 16 worked alongsidelocal law enforcement, Ohio Department of NaturalResources, MSU Toledo and Station Toledo personnel. Elevenpeople staffed a public affairs booth next to the USCG HistoricShips Company and USCGC Mobile Bay. Forty-four people were underway for over 800+ hours of patrol on one ofnine Auxiliary Facilities. A watchstander and AUXCHEF also staffed Station Toledo every day. All hands wereneeded to help the record 33,000 visitors to downtown.

Two highlights of the event were heard over and over again. There was a hamburger and hotdog cook-out forfacilities and crew on two nights. Participants really enjoyed the fellowship. The memory that most will take awaywith them is seeing the Flagship Niagara under sail on Lake Erie. All were transported back in time as the beautifulship traversed the same waters its namesake sailed 200 years ago.

USS DeWert underway. Photo US Navy

Huron Metro Parks Voyager CanoeBy Dan De Lise DSO-VE 9 CR and SO-PB 18-05

During my VSC activities I was able toInspect the canoe and equipment of theHuron Metro Park’s Voyager Canoe. TheVoyager Canoe is a 34 foot replica of a birchbark canoe which echo's the method of earlyexploration and transportation of our GreatLakes. The Voyager Canoe is available forthe public to experience a little bit of historyas well as to explore our marshlands andwaterways. As the Huron Metro Parks website suggests “Paddle along the slow-movingwaters of the Huron River in our 18 passengerVoyageur canoe as interpreter shares a bit ofhistory. Follow a 1 mile route pastpicturesque woodlands and tall grass prairieswith a chance to spot a white-tailed deerforaging near the shoreline. “

Meeting all of the safety requirements ofthis type of vessel I awarded the VSC decal.

The next week when I was there, GirlScouts Junior troop #30570 and BrownieTroop #30527 from Rainbow Elementary inClinton Twp were about to begin a voyage oflearning and adventure.

Girl Scouts & Brownies set off on an adventure on the VoyagerCanoe which was awarded a VSC decal. Photo by Dan De Lise,DSO-VE 9CR

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Coastie NewsBy LaVonne Bauer, Coastie Coordinator

It has been an exciting year for 9CR Coasties. The first and foremost great news has been that 9CR hasreceived one of the five Coasties that were to be distributed nationally and it is to be housed at the Bayfield,Wisconsin Coast Guard Station. We had three operators in Division 28 and 30 that took the class at FallConference 2011 plus their four hour training sessions later that fully qualified them. We also had a class inBayfield for thirteen more operators . There was a class at Spring Conference with another class in Roscommonbringing our total of new operators to 30, for a total of 69 operators in our district, with one more class to go yetthis year.

It is great to see the enthusiasm of our members when they acquaint themselves with Coastie and they allrealize what a great Auxiliary tool he is, both for educating and recruiting. We also now have a total of tenmembers of the Coast Guard that have also gone through the class. There have been 23 events during this year sofar. This was in spite of the fact that poor Coastie South has suffered illness since its first event of the year, andis due to go to Utah for repair after the first of the year.

As with most departments, our budgets are shrinking while obligations increase and it has been our operators,many working under non-reimbursable orders, stretching the budget we have. I have been asking those withevents to see if they can piggyback close events to make that budget go even further.

Coastie has always been a way to make the Auxiliary more visible to the public and not only for small children,but children of all ages through to dads, moms, and the grandparents as well. Coastie always promotes“BOATING AND WATER SAFETY” and is able to reach everyone in a very subtle way that is irresistible to all.

All of 9CR’s Coasties are looking forward to a great 2013 and hope that more members will want to join us asoperators. The more operators we have the more events we can cover. More hands make a lighter load.

Practice Makes PerfectBy Cathie Slabaugh, DCDR 16

This summer I asked Auxiliarists Hank and Jan Wasilausky if I could go sailing with them. I had never beensailing before, and was looking forward to the opportunity. On July 25th I got my chance, and left Brands Marina inPort Clinton, Ohio excited about my first sail on the MATLOW. I was trying to keep all the different line namesstraight when we heard a call on channel 16 for assistance. The vessel Providence was in communication withmarine salvage because they had broken down, one mile east of the MATLOW’Ss location. All four crew listenedintently to the conversation, and when the vessel declined commercial salvage, Hank hailed PROVIDENCE to findout what was the nature of the boats distress. They were a 32ft motor boat who had run out of gas. Not sure ofwhat the boat looked like and what towing issues might be, we told the Providence that we would at least sail overand see if we could be of assistance.

Though MATLOW is an Auxiliary Facility, we were not on patrol. After checking lines, and investigating thePROVIDENCE, the decision was made to tow them the two miles back to the Portage River channel. This would bemy very first real world tow. Providence was overjoyed. All four of its passengers were briefed on what we weregoing to do, asked to put on life jackets and if there were any medical conditions. The tow line was passed,secured and the stern tow began. We were on our way, the 36ft sailing vessel MATLOW towing the motor vesselPROVIDENCE. We broadcast a SECURITE message on channel 16 to let the Jet Express Ferry and other vesselsknow to alter course near our location. Everything went smooth and we made our way to shore.

Once in calmer channel waters, we pulled PROVIDENCE into a side tow and placed them at the gas docks. Itwas exhilarating to have a chance to use the skills taught in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. All that practice paid off ina team that communicated well, stayed safe and efficiently helped a fellow boater.

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A SABOT Inspired Training WeekendBy Wayne Hempeck and Jay Croy Div 30

Photos by Wayne HempeckAdmiral Robert Papp, the present Commandant of the U. S. Coast Guard, stated in his message to the Coast

Guard family, “Proficiency in craft, proficiency in leadership, disciplined initiative; these are the anchors uponwhich we will hold fast in the uncertain and stormy seas we arefacing.”

The members of Division 30 have taken this message to heart; topractice, develop and teach proficiency in our skill set and leadership.Twenty seven CG Auxiliary members gathered on the weekend of July28-31, 2012 at Walker Minnesota on scenic Leech Lake for three yearcheck rides, crew proficiency and practice learned skills; bothseamanship and leadership.

Organizing the group from one large cat herd into four operationalvessels, Cape May (Jay Croy,) Rausie (Dave Tutch), Eagle (SueThurlow) and Gold Dust (Wayne Hempeck) performed the on thewater work. A Communication site (Don Drusch, Bemidji) and aQualification Examiner station gave all hands a chance at theleadership roles even while learning basic seamanship roles andfunctions.

On Saturday 28, July 2012 while boat crew candidates were havingtheir qualification books checked, two of the operational facilities were underway. Auxiliary vessels Cape May andRausie joined the Cass County sheriff boats to guard swimmers of the annual “Chase the Police Triathlon”. Whenthe boats were finished with the security zone they returned to Bluewater Marina, our host, to join Auxiliaristsgoing through their qualification books with assigned Coxswains, boat assignments and equipment checks. Once

assigned to a vessel all crew went through training on their specificboat on specific rigging equipment and how to determine a GAR(Green, Amber, Red) Risk management score.

The rest of the day was spent on the water performing multipledrills with lines, skiff hooks heaving lines. The various boatconfigurations allowed numerous and variable side towconfigurations and simple line handling safety practices. Anchoringand weighing anchor, man over boards with a weighted “Oscar” topractice water retrieval of an actual person. Crews were changed fordifferent evolutions so all could learn crewing and running theequipment of different vessels. All of this using the SABOT job aidsheets as the guide.

Leaders on the boatsand ashore learnedorganizing and re-organizing and the ability

to track the moves. New manifests were filed with the CommunicationSite with each crew change; we didn’t lose anyone in the shuffle.

A short gathering for a supper and lessons started again. Someneeded TCT training lasting far into the night, some more signoffs,and few more marlinspike practice sessions. The importance of thosedarn knots had become apparent.

Sunday 29, July 2012, after briefs, coffee, equipment checks andGar scores we had four vessels again on the waters of Leech Lake, we

QE and DCDR Jay Croy started the processthe morning of day one. The day would getmuch hotter before we were done.

Sue Thurlow in Eagle making an approachto Gold Dust for a skiff hook-up.Candidates were focused on their task.

Side tow tangle, Eagle and Gold Dust.

Continued on page 15

Page 15

had a change of the Communication site with Ryan and Christine Kapperud, Duluth. Progressing through the drillsagain using the SABOT training aids as our model we continued to gain proficiency. The old hands went intomentor mode while the boat crew candidates refined their newly acquired on the water skills.

Meanwhile on the shore side everyone’s mentor and person from whom all of our skills originated wasconducting navigation classes. Jim “Doc” Munger had set up shop in the shade of the marina building and wasputting candidates and experienced hands through the aspects of piloting on inland waters. This while most hadpractice lanyards in their hands to refine their basic knot tying. Most had seen firsthand the importance of the basicrequirements for boat crew; they became fixated to pass that portion of their upcoming oral board when the timecame.

Monday July 30, 2012 Vessel Eagle went home as did one of the threeQualification Examiners while Rausie stayed moored. Gold Dust andCape May continued with check rides for the boat crew candidates andto get the Oral boards underway. If all went well it would be a shorterday on the water. Again using the SABOT sheets as a guide each boatset out to perform their, anchoring and man over board drills, all wentsmoothly. Just as the vessels started back to the marina to call it a dayCape May developed a mechanical problem. The towing drills were nowfor real. Gold Dust performed text book stern tow, into a side tow andparked Cape May at the pierwithout a bump or scratch.Lessons were learned anddemonstrated. Knowledgegained from three days ofdrills had allowed thecandidate to actually go toa different facility and stillperform the basic functionof becoming a crew. Moralewas high that evening, withlots of bonding betweenflotillas. What started asthree flotillas presentingtheir candidates hadbecome four cooperativeboat crews that had beentaught, readied and tested.

Tuesday July 31, 2012 Oral Board day. Two QEs went to work, sevennew boat crew faced them and emerged from the mix knowing they hadentered a special group of friends, people committed to a higher level of

boating, to help others return from the sea.

Yes, Admiral Papp, we hear you and we are proud to carry your goals forward.

Fat Oscar coming aboard Cape May. Oscarwas weighted down to simulate an adult inthe water.

Fat Oscar dumped back into the water fromCape May so Gold Dust could perform thesame drill. Then back into the water so theRausie Crew could practice.

Raymone Kral (FC Duluth) keeping a tightwatch forward on AuxVessel Rausie.

A SABOT Inspired Training Weekend, continued from page 14

The “Mainstream” is published three times per year by the Ninth Central Region, United States Coast GuardAuxiliary, John Socha, Editor, at no cost to the US Coast Guard or the Government. Mail articles to 7242Flamingo, Algonac, MI 48001, E-mail sochajohn@hotmail.com. Dick Martin, District Commodore; LlorensChenevert, District Chief of Staff; Mark Villeneuve, District Captain-South; Ray Roberts, District Captain-Central; Carl Broberg, District Captain-North.

Confidentiality Notice: PRIVACY ACT OF 1974: The disclosure of the pers7onal information contained in thispublication is subject to the provisions contained in the Privacy Act of 194. The subject Act, with certainexceptions, prohibits the disclosure, distribution, dissemination or copying of any material containing thehome address, home telephone number, spouses names, and social security numbers, except for officialbusiness. Violations may result in disciplinary action by the Coast Guard and/or civilian criminal sanctions.

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USCG AWARDSOPENING CEREMONY

Commendation Medal

Ray Roberts

AUXOPS

Anthony Velat

Michael Boshaw Sr..

Wesley Cottrell

Jonathan Ahlbrand

Kenneth Gorlitz

SATURDAY AWARDS LUNCHEON

Achievement Medal

Jeff Carrier-Sector Sault

Howard Gladwin

David Pederson

Bruce Shoffner

Commandant Letter of Commendation

Don Warren – Sector Sault

Ron View – Sector Sault

Dan McGregor – Sector Sault

Ken Larson – Sector Sault

James Gladstone

Reginald Hempeck

Debra Yeager

Philip Wesley

SATURDAY DINNER

Meritorious Achievement & Performance

Richard Martin

Finalist Auxiliarist of the Year

James Gladstone

9CR Fall Conference